Tanzania Set to Move its Capital to Dodoma

Tanzania’s government has started relocating its capital from the port city of Dar es Salaam to Dodoma, which is the fourth largest city in the country. The move aims to centralize government ministries as Dodoma is viewed as a more central location. The government’s resolve to move to Dodoma was made public by President John Pombe Magufuli earlier in 2016, which he plans to effect before the end of his five year term ie 2020.

One of the factors that have contributed greatly to the move is the fact that Dar es Salaam is becoming busy with issues of traffic jam, air and noise pollution being among key challenges. In 1973 the Tanzanian government under the leadership of President Julius Nyerere made an announcement that it would move from Dar es Salaam to a more central location; however four decades later the move had not been implemented due to various reasons ranging from poor infrastructure and economic difficulties.

Earlier in the year director general of the Capital Development Authority, Paskasi Muragili stated that the move would cost about $500 million to move the government to Dodoma. Tanzania is likely to seek financial help from its partners such as China to finance the move.

Over the years Dar es Salaam has been more of a commercial center and the move will see Dodoma become a political center. Tanzania is not the first country to move its capital; in 1991 the Nigerian government moved its capital from Lagos to Abuja. For South African it has three capitals Pretoria serves as the administrative capital, Cape Town assumes the role of legislative capital while Bloemfontein serves as the judicial capital.